Reflexive verbs - in French

An introduction to reflexive verbs in French.

1. REFLEXIVE VERBS

2. Reflexive verbs show that the subject of the verb is performing the action upon himself, herself, or itself. Examples:    se baigner     - to bathe / to swim     se lever - to get (oneself) up REFLEXIVE VERBS

3. Change the reflexive pronoun (se or s’) to agree with the subject. Here are the reflexive pronouns: Reflexive VERBS – Conjugation Pronoun Reflexive Pronoun English Meaning Je Me Myself Tu Te Yourself Il/Elle/On Se Himself / Herself Nous Nous Ourselves Vous Vous Yourself or Yourselves Ils / Elles Se Themselves or Each Other

4. Then conjugate the infinitive (- er , - ir , -re, or irregular verb). Ex. Se coucher (to go to bed) Reflexive VERBS – Conjugation Singulier Pluriel Je me couche Nous nous couchons Tu te couches Vous vous couchez Il/Elle se couche Ils / Elles se couchent

5. Then conjugate the infinitive (- er , - ir , -re, or irregular verb). Ex. Se doucher (to shower) Reflexive VERBS – Conjugation Singulier Pluriel Je me douche Nous nous douchons Tu te douches Vous vous douchez Il/Elle se douche Ils / Elles se douchent

6. When doing the negative form of a reflexive verb, you still use the ne…pas sandwich. Example: Se lever Reflexive VERBS – Negative Singulier Pluriel Je ne me lève pas Nous ne nous levons pas Tu ne te lèves pas Vous ne vous levez pas Il/Elle ne se lève pas Ils / Elles ne se levent pas

7. When doing the negative form of a reflexive verb, you still use the ne…pas sandwich. Example: S’habiller Reflexive VERBS – Negative Singulier Pluriel Je ne m’habille pas Nous ne nous habillons pas Tu ne t’habilles pas Vous ne vous habillez pas Il/Elle ne s’habille pas Ils / Elles ne s’habillent pas

8. Usually reflexive pronouns go directly in front of the conjugated verb. Example: Je me couche . Exceptions When there is an infinitive verb, the reflexive object pronouns goes in front of the infinitive. Example: Je vais me laver. (I’m going to wash myself). Where to put the reflexive pronouns

9. Exceptions When there is a command… the reflexive pronouns go after the conjugated verb. The reflexive pronouns also change for some! Examples: Lave- toi Levez-vous Normal Reflexive Pronoun Reflexive Pronouns for commands Je Moi Tu Toi Il/Elle Il/Elle Nous Nous Vous Vous Ils / Elles Ills/ Elles Where to put the reflexive pronouns

10. common reflexive verbs

11. Common Reflexive VERBS Reflexive verb English meaning s’amuser to have fun / to amuse oneself se baigner          to bathe se brosser (les cheveux , les dents)   to brush (one's hair, one's teeth) se casser (la jambe , le bras)    to break (one's leg, one's arm) se coiffer       to fix one's hair se coucher    to go to bed se couper       to cut oneself se dépêcher to hurry up se habiller / se déshabiller to get dressed / to get undressed se lever to get up se raser to shave se réveiller to wake up

12. Reflexive and non-Reflexive

13. Reflexive & Non-reflexive It is important to note that most reflexive verbs can also be used in a non-reflexive way. Example : Reflexive Non-reflexive Je me brosse les dents Je brosse les dents de ma fille . I brush my teeth. I brush my daughter’s teeth.

14. Sometimes the meaning of the verb actually changes. Common verbs of this type include: Reflexive & Non-reflexive Non-reflexive Reflexive Demander – to ask Se demander – to wonder Ennuyer – to annoy S’ennuyer – to be bored Passer - to go past /to spend time Se passer – to happen Sentir – to smell something Se sentir – to feel Trouver – to find Se trouver – to be in a place